1/10 - PACIFIC LUTHERAN 76, GEORGE FOX 67: Return of Anderson Enables Lutes to Overcome Bruins
NEWBERG, Ore. - Jonathan Anderson, playing in just his third game with Pacific Lutheran University after regaining his eligibility after Christmas, poured in 24 points, leading the Lutes past the George Fox University Bruins 76-67 in Northwest Conference men's basketball Saturday night here at Miller Gym in the Wheeler Sports Center.
The Bruins and Lutes exchanged leads four times in the first six minutes of the game, George Fox taking its final lead at 11-10 with 13:55 left in the half on a jumper by Mark Gayman. PLU then ran off 9 unanswered points to take a 19-11 lead on an Anderson layup at the 9:32 mark, and the Lutes never trailed again. It was 32-25 PLU at the half, and the Lutes maintained a lead between 7 and 16 points the rest of the way.
George Fox entered the game with all five of its starters averaging in double figures, and they all did it again, combining for 64 of the Bruins' 67 points. Scott Szalay and Ben Melvin had 15 each, Aaron Schmick scored 14, and Gayman and Bryan Wadlow had 10 apiece. Gayman grabbed 8 rebounds as the Bruins maintained a slight edge on the boards, 37-36, and Schmick had 3 assists.
Anderson, the Lutes' leading scorer last year, got help from Drew Cardwell with 18 points. Michael Jacobs came off the bench to pull down a team-high 8 rebounds, and Hazen Hyland passed out 9 assists.
George Fox dipped to 3-7 overall and 0-2 in the conference, while Pacific Lutheran climbed to 4-7 overall and 1-1 in the league.
The Bruins are back in conference action Tuesday (Jan. 13), hosting Pacific University. The Lutes are off until Friday (Jan. 16) when they will host Whitworth College. Both men's games are at 8:00 p.m., following women's games at 6:00 p.m.